As someone new to Vine as of late Oct 2023 I was grateful to find this thread (via google/reddit). As I live in HUD (thank you losing my job over cancers #2 and #3 in one year and due to the cancer treatment complications gap in my employment and age discrimination finding another full time job is proving to be much harder than I had hoped) and get SNAP keeping below the $600 reporting minimum is important because otherwise my rent goes up $180/year ($15/mo) at $600 (and of course more if I get more - 30% of my income goes to rent in HUD) and my SNAP goes down by the same amount (or I could lose it completely depending on how much I order).
This year it means 4 kids have a good (although not extravagant) christmas. I read elsewhere you have to have $2000/year in Vine requests to stay on Vine and I can't afford $50/mo more in rent since this isn't money, it is stuff.
I too had noticed they inflate the value of items when you request them (from about 20-30% depending on the item). While selling stuff (at a loss I am sure) I can probably make up the tax difference, the rent difference, and maybe the food difference I am not sure it is worth the hassle. That brings a new set of issues.
So if we resell this stuff (well except what we actually need for kid presents and, in my case phone cords since the cat chews on the lightening end of cords if I forget to put it in a drawer) can we then count it as a business instead of a hobby since we are reselling? Or because we will be reselling at a loss that negates the "making a profit" most years business rule? And would we then have to count what we got selling it as additional income even though it is a "loss" so to speak? I am confused.
I have a feeling I just went down a rabbit hole accepting this invitation and since this year is nearly over staying under $600 would be easy, but next year likely not (well I could but I had planned to use it for kid birthday and christmas presents). Were it not for public services (HUD, SNAP) it would be less of an issue but you have to report all income to them as you get it and that changes your benefits. And they hate you for having to redo your paperwork due to changing income. Then they retaliate trying to drive you out of HUD so they don't have to do interim rent determinations.
I'd appreciate any advice anyone has.
